The Institute of Acoustics (www.ioa.org.uk) has joined up with KSG Acoustics to try and capitalise on this time of reduced human activity by quantifying the levels of background noise during the COVID-19 restrictions, for later comparison with the new 'normal'. Should these measurements be aligned with wind speed or traffic movements to allow better correlation with likely noise drivers?
From the IOA website:
"It’s impossible to miss how quiet it is outside during the COVID-19 lockdown. Vehicles, aircraft, fixed plant and people noise have all significantly reduced as the UK Government advice of Stay Safe Stay Home is actively enforced.
This has created a unique set of environmental noise conditions and, as a dedicated community of scientists, we are urging you to please take part in a community data gathering exercise to capture this moment.
The Quiet Project, supported by the Institute of Acoustics and Association of Noise Consultants, is a community effort to crowdsource and create a publicly accessible database of environmental sound levels across the UK during the COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent recovery period. Using a type 1 or type 2 logging sound level meter, we are asking you to gather data in your back garden or other publicly accessible spaces (assuming the required social distancing rules can be observed) and share it with the project.
It’s easy to get involved and you can start gathering data today. See the attached documents below for further information. There will shortly be a project website (www.thequietproject.co.uk). In the meantime, all queries can be emailed to project co-ordinators KSG Acoustics at www.facebook.com/thequietproject/"